OREANDA-NEWS. Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) Director Emilio T. Gonzalez hosted Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Deputy Commissioner Kevin McAleenan and Acting Deputy Assistant Commissioner for CBP Field Operations Chris Maston yesterday to discuss CBP staffing levels at Miami International Airport (MIA).

Their visit followed CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske's tour of the global gateway in late May, and came on the heels of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio's publicly expressed concerns about CBP staffing levels at MIA, which were made during a Senate subcommittee hearing last week. The group toured the North Terminal federal inspections services area and later held a private meeting to discuss staffing and growth issues. A small team from hub carrier American Airlines led by Chief Operating Officer Robert Isom also participated.

As America's second-busiest port of entry, MIA handled more than 20 million international passengers last year, and its international passenger totals have grown by 30 percent over the past six years - more than any other U.S. airport. With further growth expected, MDAD has been aggressively advocating for additional CBP officers to help expedite the entry process for passengers arriving at the airport from abroad. The unique passenger makeup at MIA makes the need for personnel even more urgent, with more than 60 percent of international arrivals being non-U.S. citizens who often require additional CBP screening. In response, CBP has pledged to deploy at least 60 new officers to MIA in the next 18 to 24 months, and is evaluating increasing that number to meet the airport's strong international passenger growth and demand.

MDAD has also been proactive in efforts to help its federal partners improve the screening process for passengers by making significant financial investments in new technology and CBP overtime funding. In 2013, the department purchased and installed 36 self-service automated passport control kiosks at MIA at a cost of USD 3.5 million.  An additional 36 kiosks - also valued at USD 3.5 million - are now on order. Additionally, MIA is one of only three U.S. airports to participate in the CBP Reimbursable Services pilot program, which will see the department spend up to USD 6 million over the next five years to pay CBP for additional overtime staffing hours.

"MIA is truly unique among U.S. gateway airports and I appreciate Deputy Secretary Mayorkas and Acting Deputy Commissioner McAleenan taking the time to come down from Washington to see our challenges firsthand," said Gonzalez. "Our federal partners at CBP have a critical national security role to play, just as MIA has its own role to play as an economic generator and provider of exceptional customer service. Together we are working towards staffing solutions that achieve all of those ends."